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Domestic Relations

5/12/2009 10:19:24 AM EST

And Now There Are 4!

By Jenny Pizer, Marriage Project Director, Lambda Legal

Posted by Jennifer Pizer

No doubt about it --- the LGBT equality movement turned a corner this spring and there’s no turning back! First the Iowa Supreme Court issued an emphatic, unanimous decision in favor of marriage equality in Lambda Legal's Varnum v. Brien case. Then courageous legislators in Vermont voted to extend full marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples. Then the District of Columbia City Council took the first step towards marriage recognition by voting – unanimously – to respect same-sex couples’ marriages from elsewhere. Finally, Connecticut’s Republican governor signed the marriage equality bill sent to her desk by that state’s lawmakers, carrying out the state high court’s instruction of last fall. The number of states treating lesbian and gay couples equally has doubled – from two to four – within a month.

As LGBT civil rights lawyers, we feel the deep thrill of seeing our analysis applied, and vindication of our belief in the capacity of courts to rule wisely and to do justice. Of all the wonderful statements about our Iowa victory in recent weeks, one of my favorites came from the elected leaders of the Iowa legislature, Senator Gronstal and Representative Murphy. “When all is said and done," they said, "we believe the only lasting question about today's events will be why it took us so long."

While we celebrate these immensely important breakthroughs, we also anxiously await the California Supreme Court's decision in Strauss v. Horton, our challenge to Proposition 8.. Strauss seeks to protect our victory last year that recognized the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry... We believe Proposition 8 failed to follow the rules Californians long ago adopted for changing their constitution. We also believe California’s democratic government was designed from the outset – as in all other states and our federal system– to protect minorities from majority attack. Now we wait to see if California’s high court will uphold these principles.. If the court does not, we will keep fighting to restore equality in our nation’s most populous state – as we are fighting coast to coast – for as long as it takes., our challenge to Proposition 8 seeks to protect our victory last year that recognized the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry... We believe Proposition 8 failed to follow the rules Californians long ago adopted for changing their constitution. We also believe California’s democratic government was designed from the outset – as in all other states and our federal system– to protect minorities from majority attack. Now we wait to see if California’s high court will uphold these principles.. If the court does not, we will keep fighting to restore equality in our nation’s most populous state – as we are fighting coast to coast – for as long as it takes.

They say, “As goes Iowa, so goes the nation.” Indeed, one of the ultimate swing states, Iowa often selects our presidents. On issues of civil rights, however, this heartland state has been remarkably consistent, honoring its own traditions of fairness and decency. Iowa led the way on the abolition of slavery, racial desegregation, and the most basic rights of women... As the heartland now speaks to our nation about this matter of the heart, we know we are watching a transformative moment. Yes, we've turned a corner and we won't be turning back.

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